Bell Palsy — Acute Facial Weakness with Otalgia

A 34-year-old woman presents with acute LEFT FACIAL DROOP noted on waking, inability to close the left eye, drooling, and loss of facial expression. She reports a 24-hour prodrome of retro-auricular pain, altered taste in the anterior two-thirds of her tongue, and hyperacusis in the left ear. Examination confirms lower motor neuron facial nerve weakness with involvement of the forehead (House-Brackmann grade IV). Otoscopy is NORMAL with NO VESICLES. Pure-tone audiometry is NORMAL with symmetric thresholds, as shown in the diagram marked **A**. Which of the following is the most appropriate INITIAL MANAGEMENT for this patient?